Nancy Jean Kelley
Nancy Jean Kelley
Nancy Jean Kelley, 85, of Nekoosa and formerly of Adams-Friendship, died June 3, 2026, of pancreatic cancer.
Nancy was born Oct. 24, 1940, to James D. and Agnes I. (Bryan) Cummings of Neillsville, WI. Among the youngest of 11 children, Nancy graduated from high school in 1958 and attended Wood County Teachers College 1958-60, launching a lifelong career educating children in their earliest school years.
She married John R. Kelley of Neillsville in 1961. They remained married until her death nearly 65 years later.
Nancy taught elementary-level students first at Genoa City, 1960-62, then Neillsville Grade School, 1963-66. After moving with John to Adams-Friendship, she taught first-graders how to read and write, 20 or so students at a time, for the next 25 years at the Adams Grade School, where her children also began their schooling.
Like many teachers, she sometimes bought basic school supplies out of her own pocket for students who lacked them and occasionally raided her kids’ closets for an outgrown coat or pair of shoes for a young student in need.
With John, she raised three children, Tim, John and Jean, in their rural Friendship home across the road from Roche-a-Cri state park. Son John followed her inspiration and taught elementary school art for 17 years, until his life was cut short by brain cancer at age 44.
Nancy retired at 62. She traveled to England and Ireland with family and friends, traversed the Black Hills and U.S. Southwest with husband John and settled into a routine at home, enjoying reading (especially mystery series), old country music favorites and visits from family and friends. She attended Immanuel Lutheran Church in Adams and was a member of the church choir. She and John lived in Friendship for 50 years before moving to Nekoosa in 2016.
She is survived by her husband, John, of Nekoosa; daughter Jean (Dan Pataska), La Crosse; son Tim (Cathy Fleming), of McFarland; grandson Max (Abbey Reinke), of Chicago; brother Tom (Pat) Cummings; and sister Jo-Ann Rusinko.
She was preceded in death by son John; brothers James (Gladys) Cummings, Donald (Dolly) Cummings, Robert (LaVonne) Cummings, John (Verna) Cummings, William Cummings and Allen (Janice) Cummings; and sisters Agnes (Harold) Stephens and Mary (Robert) Palubicki.
Thanks to the kind people of Nekoosa Court assisted living and Compassus hospice services for assuring Nancy’s comfort in her final weeks.
Services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, June 10, at Feldner/Ritchay Funeral Home, 615 1st St., Nekoosa, WI. with visitation from noon to 1 p.m. and a lunch to follow. Internment will be announced at a later date.